Harpsichord Suites HWV 426-429 CD17

Abstract

Handel's first volume of Suites for keyboard was published in London in 1720 by Handel himself because, as he wrote in the preface, "surrepticious [sic] and incorrect Copies of them had got Abroad." Also called Suites de pieces pour le clavecin or Lessons because they were used by Handel for didactic purposes, the suites are sets of stylized dances often preceded by a prelude and sometimes including a fugue or a set of variations. The first suite from the first volume is in A major and consists of four movements: Prelude, Allemande, Courante, and Gigue. The opening Prelude is a toccata, a touch piece, with massive rolled chords, connected scales, and trills. The Allemande, marked Andantino, is a slight and delightful piece in first two, then three, then four, and finally five voices. The Courante is a lively, triple-time dance with elegant embellishments and a graceful rhythm. The closing Gigue is a brilliant piece in fast 12/8 with rushing lines and rambunctious half trills. Handel published his first volume of Suites for keyboard in London in 1720. The works had already been published without his permission in Amsterdam the previous year and Handel published them himself in London to protect his royalties. Also called Suites de pieces pour le Clavecin, the suites most often are sets of stylized dances. The Suite in F major, however, is not a set of dances, but rather a stylized church sonata in four movements: Adagio, Allegro, Adagio, and Fuga. The opening Adagio is a thoughtful and expansive movement with an exquisitely embellished melody above wide-ranging modulations starting in F major, but ending in A minor. The following Allegro is a rapid, racing movement in F major with few modulations. The following Adagio is a dramatic movement in D minor with a highly expressive melody above widely spaced chords. The closing Fuga Allegro is in four independent voices with an aggressive subject.